Protective blanket

ABSTRACT

A protective blanket is made from a fabric of thin and flexible material impermeable to wind and moisture, one of the surfaces of the fabric being metallically glossy and thus reflective for thermal radiation, the outer surface of the fabric carrying transverse supporting straps fixed at a distance from each other and having loops at their ends. Thus, two rows of loops are formed through which supporting rods can be extended.

[ 1 Jan. 9, 1973 F -F1909 X1 1 3Q7O8B1O I 1 PROTECTIVE BLANKET [76] Inventor: Pauli Assnr Antero Merlkalllo, lso- Robertinkatu 29-3l A7, Helsinki, Finland [22] Filed: Oct. 6, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 78,387

[52] US. Cl. 5/343, 5/82, 5/334 [51] Int. Cl. ..A6 1j 7/10, A61j 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..5/82, 89, 336, 343, 344, 347, 5/334; 2/1, 97

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,281,385 10/1918 Johnson .5/82 2,701,885 2/1955 Turco 2,788,530 4/1957 Ferguson ..5/343 X 2,361,328 10/1944 Springer ..5/82 2,630,573 3/1953 Rand 2,537,537 1/1951 Ljungberg ..5/343 X Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney-Richards & Geier ABSTRACT 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PAIENTEnJAn 9191s 3 708 810 sum 1 OF 2 l s, was it).

PROTECTIVE BLANKET DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a protective blanket.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a blanket which is most effective in transporting sick and injured persons but which can be also used effectively for other purposes, forexample on outings, excursions, automobile trips and the like.

Another object is the provision of a blanket of this type which can be used for transporting a patient without the use of a separate stretcher.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

When injured and sick persons are being transported, it is necessary to transport the patient frequently over long distances and for prolonged periods in outdoor conditions and exposed to the weather. Likewise, for example, in war-time the wounded are often compelled to wait for long periods in the open or in a cold tent before they can be transported to the hospital. It is well known that protection of the patient against moisture and the risk of catching cold is then a consideration of primary importance. In certain circumstances it is also necessary to protect the patient against excessive solar radiation.

Recently protective blankets have been developed for these purposes which are made of comparatively thin fabric and at least one side of which has been treated to present metallic gloss, for example with a suitable aluminum paint, so that the protective blanket effectively prevents thermal radiation from the patient to his surroundings. Equally, of course, it also prevents thermal radiation from the surroundings from reaching the patient. Moreover, protective blankets have been made of such a film material, or they have been treated with suitable dressing agents, so as to make them impermeable to wind and moisture.

In accordance with the present invention blankets of this type have been so constructed that they have become more versatile in their applications. When used for transporting patients, they eliminate the necessity of providing a separate stretcher. For that purpose, to the outer surface of the protective blanket, in the area upon which it is intended to place the patient, there have been fixed at distances from each other, transverse supportingstraps, on the ends of which loops have been provided, these loops forming two rows of loops parallel to the direction in which the patient is transported and spaced from each other, and through which staff-like elements can be passed in order to form a stretcher.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing by way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

in the drawings:

FIG. I showsa protective blanket according to the invention, spread flat and viewed from its back side.

FIG. 2 shows in perspective a patient who has been packaged in a protective blanket according to the invention.

The drawings show a protective blanket 2 which carries packaging cords 3 and supporting straps 5. The packaging cords as well'as the supporting straps have been attached to the fabric at the points indicated by dotted lines and by the reference numeral 4. The ends of the supporting straps 5 have been formed into loops, which are located in two rows, and through these rows of loops staff-like members 9 may be passed, such as skis or poles, as shown in FIG. 2. In order to provide support to the patients head during transport, there has been fixed to the protective blanket a flap-like piece 6, the attachment seam of which runs transversally below a cut 1 which has been made in the upper part of the blanket. The purpose of the cut 1 is to enable the upper part of the blanket to be turned over the patients shoulders. The piece 6, too, has been provided with loops, whereby it may likewise obtain support from the staff-like members 9. In FIG. 2 the reference numeral It) indicates the margin of the blanket 2. The reference numeral 8 indicates a separate head cowl, which has been made ofa material similar to that of the protective blanket.

in order that the versatility of the protective blanket in use might be increased, its margin has been provided with openings 7 resembling buttonholes, whereby it is possible, for instance, when the blanket is used to constitute the slanting roof in front ofa log fire, to anchor one edge to the ground by the aid of sticks or other members. The protective blanket can also be rapidly shaped into a structure resembling a ridged tent ifa rod or equivalent is passed through between the middle portions of the supporting straps 5 and the protective blanket. in this case, too, the skirts are most suitably anchored to the ground by means of the openings 7.

The blanket can be used most effectively in excursions or outdoor parties as a ground cover or a wraparound protecting against cold or wind. in cars it can be used as a heat blanket, to prevent car windows from freezing and to keep the motor warm.

The aluminized surface of the blanket furnishes a light-reflecting marker on the ground. At sea, and when one waves the blanket, it serves as a radar reflector.

It is to be understood that a protective blanket according to the invention can be made of a number of different materials. However, a material which is particularly suitable has proved to be a silk fabric made of polyamide filament and which has been treated with dressing agents on polyurethane or polyethane and silicon basis. Furthermore, there is on one side of the fabric, most appropriately on the side against the patient, an aluminum pigment coating. The outer surface of the protective blanket may be finished, for military uses, in camouflaging colors. A protective blanket made of polyamide fabric is characterized by particular strength, it can be folded to very small size, and it is light of weight. It is moreover easy to wash and to disinfeet.

When a protective blanket according to the invention is used, transportation of the patient, for example, in trenches is considerably easier than in the event a stretcher is used, because the patient-package made with the aid ofa protective blanket according to the invention is sufficiently elastic and yielding to facilitate the negotiation of narrow passages and, for instance, corners of the trench.

it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the example presented in the drawing and that the design may be altered and modified in various details without leaving the scope of the invention.

lclaim:

A protective blanket comprising a sheet of fabric of thin and flexible material impermeable to wind and moisture, at least that surface of the blanket which faces the user being metallically glossy and reflecting thermal radiation, a plurality of spaced transverse sup porting straps attached to the other surface of the blanket and extending in a parallel row substantially in the middle of the blanket, loops upon opposite ends of said straps, whereby said loops form two parallel rows extending in the longitudinal direction of the sheet of fabric, cords having ends connected to said straps, the end of the fabric intended for the head of the user having a centrally located cut out portion, a flap-like piece attached to said sheet of fabric below said cutout portion, the attachment seam of said piece extending transversely to the direction of said out out portion and close to its bottom, and loops attached to opposed edges of said flap-like piece and extending in alinement with the first-mentioned loops.

2. A protective blanket in accordance with claim 1, wherein each supporting strap is attached to said fabric at two spaced points, whereby each strap has a central free portion spaced from the fabric.

3. A protective blanket comprising a sheet of fabric having a head edge, a foot edge extending parallel to said head edge, and two side edges joining said head and foot edges, said sheet of fabric consisting of thin and flexible material impermeable to wind and moisture, at least that surface of the blanket which faces the user being metallically glossy and reflecting thermal radiation, said sheet of fabric having openings adjacent the four corners thereof, and two openings adjacent the side edges substantially in the middle of the side edges, a plurality of spaced transverse supporting straps attached at opposite ends to the other surface of the blanket and extending in a parallel row substantially in the middle of the blanket, loops upon opposite ends of said straps, whereby said loops form two parallel rows extending in the longitudinal direction of the sheet of fabric, cords having ends connected to said straps and free ends extending beyond the side edges of the sheet of fabric, one of said cords having an end attached to the strap located closest to the foot edge of the sheet of fabric and a free end extending beyond said foot edge, the head edge of the sheet of fabric having a centrally located cut out portion, a flap-like piece at tached to said sheet of fabric below said cut out por tion, the attachment seam of said piece extending transversely to the direction of said cut out portion and close to its bottom, a transverse supporting strap at- 

2. A protective blanket in accordance with claim 1, wherein each supporting strap is attached to said fabric at two spaced points, whereby each strap has a central free portion spaced from the fabric.
 3. A protective blanket comprising a sheet of fabric having a head edge, a foot edge extending parallel to said head edge, and two side edges joining said head and foot edges, said sheet of fabric consisting of thin and flexible material impermeable to wind and moisture, at least that surface of the blanket which faces the user being metallically glossy and reflecting thermal radiation, said sheet of fabric having openings adjacent the four corners thereof, and two openings adjacent the side edges substantially in the middle of the side edges, a plurality of spaced transverse supporting straps attached at opposite ends to the other surface of the blanket and extending in a parallel row substantially in the middle of the blanket, loops upon opposite ends of said straps, whereby said loops form two parallel rows extending in the longitudinal direction of the sheet of fabric, cords having ends connected to said straps and free ends extending beyond the side edges of the sheet of fabric, one of said cords having an end attached to the strap located closest to the foot edge of the sheet of fabric and a free end extending beyond said foot edge, the head edge of the sheet of fabric having a centrally located cut out portion, a flap-like piece attached to said sheet of fabric below said cut out portion, the attachment seam of said piece extending transversely to the direction of said cut out portion and close to its bottom, a transverse supporting strap attached to an edge of said flap-like piece which is close to the head edge of the sheet of fabric, another transverse supporting strap attached to an edge of said flap-like piece which is close to said attachment seam, loops upon opposite ends of the two last-mentioned straps, said loops extending in alinement with the first-mentioned loops, and cords having ends connected to said sheet of fabric adjacent said cut out portion and free ends extending beyond said head edge of the sheet of fabric. 